Dining In WHO: Cowboy Battalion WHAT: Dining In WHEN: 19FEB2016 WHERE: Hilton Garden Inn Laramie, WY SUMMARY: Dining In is an event to increase the morale within a unit and to let loose the formalities and rules that are normally associated with the chain of command. During Dining In Cadets have a chance to wear ASUs, share a catered meal, and have fun with peers and cadre. Dining In takes place during second semester and strengthens bonds and relationships that have been created during the course of the school year. The evening started with a receiving line in which Cadets met and greeted the head table of the mess. This year the head table consisted of the president of the mess - Cadet BC Schmitt, Lieutenant Colonel Day, c/CSM Korbecki, Sergeant First Class Hamilton, Dr. Robert Hughbank, and Cadet Huffman who is the youngest Cadet in the battalion. The evening continued with formal procedures, such as opening remarks, and the posting of the colors. Next the ceremonial mixing of the grog, which is a wicked concoction of various drinks to symbolize the past history of the U.S. Army. When the grog was mixed and ready, the mess charged their glasses and prepared for toasts. When the food was declared ready and the head table had received their food, the formalities of the evening diminished, and the mess was handed over to Mr. Vice. Mr. Vice was responsible for entertainment, and controlling the points of order and points of honor. Points of order and points of honor gave Cadets a chance to callout their peers on impromptu uniform deficiencies or school-year-long gripes. Mr. Vice assigned punishments to the points of order accordingly in a humorous manner. The punishments and competitions were done in good taste as camaraderie and high morale set the tone for the evening. The guest speaker Dr. Robert Hughbank was a former ROTC graduate, who served under LTC Day and held a distinguished military career. His speech on leadership and life lessons was moving and thoughtful. The evening concluded with skits created by each MS class in a competition to entertain the cadre and the mess. Cadre and upperclassmen were fair game for mockery in the skits, making for highly entertaining performances by each class. This year the MSIs stole the show with a stellar and lengthy performance. By: Mr. Vice - CDT Eric Rush